Major Problems with MINI Cooper S Derived from Complaints & Recalls

Learn about the common problems with a used MINI Cooper S to avoid purchasing a bad year of the model.

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Best and Worst Years for MINI Cooper S

Explore the chart showing how many complaints have been filed for each year of MINI Cooper S.

Model Year	Complaints
2012 Cooper S	9
2011 Cooper S	18
2010 Cooper S	54
2009 Cooper S	108
2008 Cooper S	160
2007 Cooper S	245
2006 Cooper S	183
2005 Cooper S	310
2004 Cooper S	245
2003 Cooper S	213
2002 Cooper S	82

Worst 3 MINI Cooper S complaints

2005 MINI Cooper S AIR BAGS Victims: 3 Mileage: 150000 miles

2003 MINI Cooper S STEERING Victims: 3 Mileage: 213000 miles

2006 MINI Cooper S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Victims: 2 Mileage: 13000 miles

Browse MINI Cooper S complaints by category

Problems with STEERING, ENGINE and AIR BAGS are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from MINI Cooper S owners.

Problem Category	Number of Problems
STEERING vehicle jerks/hestiates at low speed around 10mph. jerks during stop and go in traffic. be to a handful of auto	626 ~ 75815 miles
ENGINE engine rattling noise (timing chain and tensioner) at all times vehicle has only 50 000 miles ...	303 ~ 65410 miles
AIR BAGS airbag seat sensors are faulty. they are turning off the airbags even thought the driver and passenger are seated. *tr...	224 ~ 59168 miles
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING car driven two miles to market and returned home to high rise condo. parked in garage of high rise. no...	132 ~ 41070 miles
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM vehicle had been driven 24 miles and parked for about 10 minutes when engine compartment caught fire. master mechanic diagnosed	110 ~ 61057 miles
POWER TRAIN thermostat housing began to leak the part is plastic and had become cracked under normal wear....	79 ~ 58442 miles
WINDSHIELD > VISIBILITY windshield crack appeared over night. *nm...	48 ~ 7430 miles
UNKNOWN OR OTHER after coming home from a routine drive. i parked my car in the drive way. about 30 minutes later i...	39 ~ 58213 miles
SEATS tl* the contact owns a 2012 mini cooper s. the contact stated that upon entering the vehicle there were strong...	36 ~ 57425 miles
ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING cold start problem no power lots of noise. timing chain on r56 mini cooper. there is a service bulletin but	29 ~ 30497 miles
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM while moving in traffic and accelerating the fuel pump cut out and the engine died forcing the driver to maneuver...	28 ~ 70522 miles
PUMP > HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST > STEERING tl* the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper s. as he was making a left turn at 5 mph the...	21 ~ 58230 miles
SEAT BELTS airbag and seatbelt warning lights come on for passenger seat and will not turn off. it indicates that the passenger...	20 ~ 64573 miles
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL as i was accelerating while merging onto a highway at approximately 55-60 mph it felt as if the car lost...	18 ~ 49100 miles
FRONTAL > AIR BAGS the passenger airbag off light comes on with a passenger in the car. the light comes on and remains on...	16 ~ 37588 miles
MANUAL TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN 2008 mini cooper s clutch failure #1 @ approximately 23k #2 clutch failure @ 36k in both cases it left	15 ~ 25730 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE as i was accelerating while merging onto a highway at approximately 55-60 mph it felt as if the car lost...	14 ~ 36071 miles
ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM > STEERING power steering pump failure on 2005 mini cooper leads to dangerous driving *kb...	11 ~ 70539 miles
EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING i borrowed my friend's mini cooper s for the week to test drive it. as i was unloading cargo from...	11 ~ 13995 miles
HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM > STEERING the steering failed on my 2004 mini cooper s with 84k mile. the power steering fan failed causing the power...	9 ~ 76093 miles
BODY > STRUCTURE after coming home from a routine drive. i parked my car in the drive way. about 30 minutes later i...	8 ~ 55378 miles
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 2008 mini cooper s. the vehicle had a complete electrical and engine failure with no notice. while driving on interstate...	8 ~ 44319 miles
VISIBILITY my complaint is not about an accident but rather an unsafe condition in my relatively new mini cooper. the size...	8 ~ 38452 miles
STRUCTURE tl* the contact owns a 2012 mini cooper s. the contact stated that the front and rear driver side carpet...	7 ~ 32163 miles
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL on july 3 2012 i was burned on my calf by the exhaust pipe located in the middle back of...	7 ~ 68259 miles
FRONT > SUSPENSION back in late september 2006 i purchased a 06 mini cooper s (dealers demo with 380 miles). the week after...	7 ~ 24837 miles
OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION > SENSOR > AIR BAGS the passenger airbag warning light indicating the passenger side airbag is disabled even if passenger is seated. our mechanic tells...	6 ~ 77333 miles
POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS > VISIBILITY power window failure to properly lift and seal when driver and passenger doors are closed. *tr...	6 ~ 34467 miles
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 1) grinding noise was heard from right rear corner of the car while braking. 2) upon inspection it was found...	6 ~ 41014 miles
DOOR > BODY > STRUCTURE tl* the contact owns a 2012 mini cooper s. while attempting to exit the vehicle the front passenger and driver...	5 ~ 30199 miles
TREAD/BELT > TIRES i have a 2004 mini cooper that had nine month old pirelli eufori run flat tires on all four wheel...	5 ~ 12000 miles
EXTERIOR LIGHTING the plastic housing for both headlights are beginning to crack potentially exposing the xenon lightbulbs. failure of headlight(s) while driving	5 ~ 45363 miles
SIDE/WINDOW > AIR BAGS the passenger airbag off light comes on with a passenger in the car. the light comes on and remains on...	5 ~ 62870 miles
TIRES information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia) 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) kumho tire usa. incorporated and discount tire...	5 ~ 32763 miles
EQUIPMENT i burned my lower front leg on the chrome tipped dual exhaust pipes of out 2007 mini cooper s (turbo	5 ~ 14860 miles
ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC i have a 2006 mini cooper john cooper wroks gp. the dsc (directional stability control) low tire warning light and...	5 ~ 14100 miles
SERVICE BRAKES tl* the contact owns a 2008 mini cooper s. the contact stated while driving approximately 20 mph the brakes failed...	4 ~ 48375 miles
COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING i have a 2009 mini cooper s with 27 000 miles. twice the engine valves has been cleaned because of...	4 ~ 30103 miles
MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE > EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING burned my left leg just above the ankle on the exhaust pipe while retrieving parcel from the boot of the	4 ~ 11250 miles
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN i purchased a 2007 mini-cooper s and at 10k miles (1 year old) the clutch needed to be replaced. i...	4 ~ 25500 miles
SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE > FRONTAL > AIR BAGS passenger airbag sensor does not sense passenger. light illuminates stating passenger airbags off. dealer has replaced sensor seat mat twice...	4 ~ 19625 miles
SUSPENSION i have owned this vehicle for 1 year and three months. i did not have the choice of selecting any...	3 ~ 32167 miles
WHEELS i have owned this vehicle for 1 year and three months. i did not have the choice of selecting any...	3 ~ 36500 miles
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM i have a 2006 mini cooper john cooper wroks gp. the dsc (directional stability control) low tire warning light and...	3 ~ 23500 miles
REAR > SUSPENSION while pulling into the parking garage at work the rear of my mini cooper s made a noise. the control...	3 ~ 34094 miles
FRONT PASSENGER > OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION > SENSOR the passenger airbag warning light indicating the passenger side airbag is disabled even if passenger is seated. our mechanic tells...	2 ~ 66500 miles
FAN > COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING engine cooling fan low speed stage failure. there has been a recall of cooling fan for the same model up...	2 ~ 14667 miles
DRIVELINE > POWER TRAIN vin: [xxx] delivered sept. 2004. current mileage 49 940 this car was ordered via mini.com. the only drivers are a...	2 ~ 58250 miles
12V/24V/48V BATTERY > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper s. the contact stated the vehicle would not start. she contacted roadside...	2 ~ 56663 miles
CLUTCH ASSEMBLY > POWER TRAIN tl*the contact owns a 2008 mini cooper s. while driving approximately 35 mph on normal road conditions the clutch failed...	2 ~ 7000 miles
HOOD > BODY > STRUCTURE hood scoop on 2007 mini cooper "s" is melting due to excessive heat from turbo. *tr...	2 ~ 13950 miles
SIDEWALL > TIRES complaint for dunlop radial tubeless tires 205145 r17 (84v) sp sport 01 run flat tires. i was washing my 2007...	2 ~ 4350 miles
FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS > WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM i was parked one after noon looking under the hood and i heard a crackling sound coming form the abs...	2 ~ 30500 miles
MECHANICAL > EQUIPMENT 2007 mini cooper s - manual transmission would not allow gearshifts and could only be driven in first gear. dealership...	2 ~ 40100 miles
TURBO/SUPERCHARGER > GASOLINE > ENGINE the center pillar heat rises to an extremely high temperature in my car. this happened in the summer when temperatures...	2 ~ 1618 miles
ACCELERATOR PEDAL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL under normal driving conditions the car's center pillar area (directly adjacent to the gas pedal) reaches average temperatures of 115-120...	2 ~ 26685 miles
LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS > WHEELS dt*: the contact stated the lug bolts sheered while attempting to remove by hand on more than one wheel. the	2 ~ 39000 miles
AUTOMATIC (ASC) > ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL dynamic stabilty control flat tire and abs lights come on while driving. dealer has replaced dynamic stabilty control module part...	2
VISIBILITY/WIPER 2005 mini cooper s was traveling 50mph when it hit icy bridge spun around and rolled 3 times driver was	1 ~ 150000 miles
RIM > WHEELS tl* the contact owns a 2012 mini cooper s. the contact stated that while having maintenance performed the contact was...	1 ~ 44342 miles
GLASS, SIDE/REAR > VISIBILITY tl* the contact owns a 2004 mini cooper s. the contact noticed that the vehicle's air bag warning indicator was...	1 ~ 124500 miles
BUCKLE ASSEMBLY > FRONT > SEAT BELTS tl* the contact owns a 2004 mini cooper s. the contact noticed that the vehicle's air bag warning indicator was...	1 ~ 124500 miles
BEAD > TIRES the tire will not seal to the rim because of the small nipples in the rubber around the rim of...	1 ~ 33568 miles
HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS > HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST > STEERING 2007 mini cooper s. consumer writes in regards to defective power steering hoses and oil pan gaskets. *smd the consumer	1 ~ 23000 miles
SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY > VISIBILITY the dual power sunroof is stuck in the open position. after doing some research i have found that this happens...	1 ~ 39202 miles
IGNITION > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2005 mini cooper s - engine fire a few days ago (7/27/2011) my 2005 mini cooper s caught fire in...	1 ~ 86000 miles
RADIATOR ASSEMBLY > COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING on 13 june 2011 a power steering fan shorted on my dauhters 2002 mini cooper s causing the radiator fan...	1 ~ 54327 miles
SEAT HEATER/COOLER > FRONT ASSEMBLY > SEATS tl* the contact owns a 2004 mini cooper s. the contact was traveling 35 mph when the steering became extremely...	1 ~ 4053 miles
PARKING BRAKE parking brake on 2010 mini cooper s did not hold on slight incline. car rolled into another vehicle and caused	1 ~ 17500 miles
FUEL PUMP > DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE tl*the contact owns a 2004 mini cooper s. the contact stated that the power steering failed suddenly. the power steering...	1 ~ 108000 miles
PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS > TIRES the power steering on my 2005 mini cooper s began malfunctioning on 8-9-2010. while going left on a mixmaster the...	1 ~ 75000 miles
FRAME AND MEMBERS > STRUCTURE my mini cooper s has less than 27 000 miles on it. it has been carefully driven and has sustained...	1 ~ 26799 miles
COLUMN > STEERING tl*the contact owns a 2002 mini cooper s. the contact stated that while driving at 50 mph the vehicle suddenly...	1 ~ 42392 miles
ROOF AND PILLARS > BODY > STRUCTURE metal tabs connecting glass sunroof to sunroof guides broke. the metal split possibly due to metal fatigue induced by vibration.	1 ~ 119000 miles
RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. > ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT defect initially occurred at night time in rush hour traffic: dash-lights went out turn indicator not functional heater blower stopped...	1 ~ 40800 miles
INTERIOR LIGHTING defect initially occurred at night time in rush hour traffic: dash-lights went out turn indicator not functional heater blower stopped...	1 ~ 40800 miles
DIESEL > ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING cold start chatter. very nasty diesel engine sound upon startup when engine is cold. sound lasts for up to 1...	1 ~ 60 miles
SHOCK ABSORBER > REAR > SUSPENSION consumer wants to know if there are any recalls for 2003 mini cooper s. consumer states that her son was...	1
ABS WARNING LIGHT > ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC i was parked one after noon looking under the hood and i heard a crackling sound coming form the abs...	1
GASOLINE > ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING during cold start vehicle makes loud metal on metal sound persistent for several minutes. sound is similar to older diesel...	1
CRUISE CONTROL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL car has been outside in the cold weather and when started it sounds like not firing correctly-backfiring noises. engine lights...	1 ~ 21000 miles
ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM took my car in for winding sound coming from motor. diagnosed as the alternator...they replaced it and sound was still...	1 ~ 85000 miles
MACPHERSON STRUT > FRONT > SUSPENSION tl*the contact owns a 2006 mini cooper s. while driving 45 mph the vehicle squeaked when it drove over a...	1 ~ 11000 miles
MOTOR > WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER > VISIBILITY several the air bag warning light has illuminated more then ten different times each time it was repaired by the...	1
TANK ASSEMBLY > STORAGE > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE the plastic gas tank of the 2006 mini cooper was punctured by debris on rt 3 near chelmsford massachusetts. several	1 ~ 23805 miles
PADS > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS with only 24000 total miles on the 2002 mini cooper-s all 4 brakes and rotors were failing worn beyond limits	1 ~ 24000 miles
ROTOR > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS i was driving my brand new mini cooper s home from the dealership on the interstate i was cut off...	1 ~ 86 miles
AIR CONDITIONER > APPLIANCE > EQUIPMENT for the past 2 years the air conditioning has been intermittent. the lights for the fan and temperature remain on...	1 ~ 34000 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER while driving vehicle 20 minutes with no problems the vehicle stalled the check engine light came on and within seconds...	1
AXLE ASSEMBLY > POWER TRAIN while consumer stopped at a traffic light another driver pointed out that rear axle had snapped from vehicle. consumer had	1
INFLATOR MODULE > DRIVER SIDE > FRONTAL consumer called complaining abot the air bags in the vehicle. also stated that while driving the vehicle the side air...	1 ~ 3300 miles

FAQ

What year MINI Cooper S is the most reliable?

Speaking of the models produced in the last 11 years, MINI Cooper S models of 2012, 2011, 2010 year of manufacture have had the least number of complaints.

What year was a bad year for MINI Cooper S?

MINI Cooper S models of 2005 and 2004 are probably the years to be avoided like the plague due to a higher than an average number of issues reported.

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